FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Greg Angelo
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh relied heavily on its freshman class in 2008, with five of the regular starters coming from the new class. Those players now have a full season of experience under their belts and look to be the foundation of the team as sophomores.
The 2009 Mountain Hawks will be a more battle-tested squad than the previous edition of the Brown and White. They will have plenty of depth at most of the positions to choose from, and head coach Sean Leary said they will use speed and energy to have success in the Patriot League this year.
Infield
The Mountain Hawks will have a problem in the infield this year; only it’s a good problem to have. The team simply has too many good players for the four infield spots, and someone has to be left out of the starting lineup.
Brendan McGaheran will likely be the anchor at shortstop for the Brown and White this season. The sophomore was a rock for the Mountain Hawks in the infield last year, starting 49 games and becoming one of the more consistent offensive threats, posting a .287 batting average with three home runs and 15 steals on 20 attempts.
Geoff Campbell is the other likely choice to start in the middle infield, where he is likely to play second base. The senior infielder/relief pitcher committed just three errors in 33 games in the infield last year.
Third base is more up for grabs this season, as junior Patrick Groome tries to hold off talented freshman Ryan Gajdos for the spot. Groome saw action in 17 games last season, but Gajdos made a strong impression with the coaching staff in the fall.
Austin Borden made a strong case last season to become the everyday first baseman in 2009. The sophomore started 20 games in his first season, hitting .257 with one home run and 11 runs batted in.
There are several other players that figure to see considerable time in the infield this season. Kevin Mihalik and Greg Angelo figure into the pitching mix, but they can also handle the bat and may be able to crack the lineup when they are not on the mound. In addition, Joe Belini – who played in 25 games last year – Brendan Pifer and Jim McConlogue should see time in the infield.
At catcher, Leary also has plenty to choose from in 2009, but he is confident in primary backstop Billy Swenson. The junior catcher has been more for his great defense, but Leary insists he can do more than handle a pitching staff. Providing depth behind the plate will be Michael Laychur and Greg Turcotte and freshman Joe Conaway.
Outfield
Four players will see the majority of time at the three outfield positions or designated hitter throughout the season. Second Team All-Patriot League selection Logan Marshall-Winchester returns for his sophomore campaign, after hitting .278 with one home run and 15 RBI in his first season.
Marshall-Winchester will be joined by Andy Russell, who compiled the best batting average last season among returning players (.312). Russell tied McGaheran for the second-best home run total, with three round-trippers last season, and he tied departing senior Joe Ercolano for the team lead with 29 runs batted in.
Mark Bernhard joins the crew as the only senior figuring to be in the starting mix in the outfield. Bernhard brings the experience of 48 games played in his Lehigh career. Rounding out the projected outfield will be Billy Goldman, who started 42 games as a freshman in 2008.
Pitchers
Angelo will take the reigns as the No. 1 pitcher this season after a promising sophomore campaign. Angelo started seven games last year, going 1-2 with a 3.09 ERA. He pitched in 43.2 innings and struck out 35 batters while giving up just one home run.
The wild card this season will be Jordan Warncke, who is now fully recovered from an elbow injury that slowed him last year. Warncke pitched in 11 games as a reliever last season, but he figures to make the rotation this year. Warncke is a hard thrower who will be relied upon as the No. 2 starter.
Slotting in behind Angelo and Warncke will likely be Andrew Berger and Mihalik. Mihalik started six games last year, registering one complete game shutout, striking out 29 batters and walking just 17 in 50.2 innings while posting a 3.91 ERA. Berger started 10 games in 2008, earning a complete game and striking out 29 batters in 48.2 innings.
Leary will choose from up to five more players to see action in the rotation before league play begins, with Rob Russell, Ken Longernecker, Mike Lebo, Dan Ciccone and Cory Kent all battling for innings.
Rob Russell compiled a 3-3 record last season in seven starts and five relief appearances. Longernecker appeared in 11 games as a reliever in 2008, but Leary intends to stretch him out as a pitcher that can both start or relieve in 2009. Lebo saw action in nine games last year, starting four and registering one complete game.
Ciccone and Kent are the new faces in the pitching staff. The long Ciccone used his 6-foot-7 frame to put up a 7-2 record with a 2.23 ERA in 44 innings with the Lawrence legion team in Lawrenceville, N.J. last. Kent was named All-Area and Player of the Year by The Express Times and The Morning Call after he posted an 8-2 record with a 1.64 ERA and 115 strikeouts at Wilson Area High School.
Leary hesitates to define any of his relievers as a “closer,” but he says he will rely on three guys as his short relievers. If Rob Russell does not turn into a starter, he will find a place in the late innings as a reliable bullpen option. Luke Porter also will make a case to pitch late in games, after he made one appearance against Lafayette, pitching two scoreless innings last year.
Campbell proved to be the most reliable arm out of the pen last season, appearing in nine games in 2008. Campbell led all relievers with a 1.20 ERA in 15 innings pitched.
Schedule
The Mountain Hawks open up the action with a trip to Hattiesburg, Miss., where they will square off with Southern Miss. from Feb. 20-22. The opening weekend will be a challenge for The Mountain Hawks, as the Golden Eagles won 41 games last season, including 25 in Hattiesburg.
Other early-season road trips include heading to Maryland-Eastern Shore, George Washington and the annual spring break trip to Palm Beach, Fla. Following the trip to Florida, Lehigh will make stop at George Mason before finally playing a home game.
The Brown and White begins the home schedule on March 17, when it hosts the Temple Owls at Goodman Campus. Lehigh continues its homestand with one game against St. Jospeh’s and back-to-back double headers with Binghamton.
The Mountain Hawks will begin the Patriot League schedule when they travel to Holy Cross on March 28 for a four-game set with the Crusaders. Lehigh fans will get their first taste of home Patriot League action on April 4, when the Navy Midshipmen come to Bethlehem for four games. Army will make the trip to Goodman Campus, when the Black Knights stop by on April 18 for back-to-back doubleheaders. Other home matchups in 2009 include Bucknell, La Salle, St. Joseph’s and Penn.
Lehigh will have to travel to Easton for its annual matchup with archrival Lafayette with double headers on April 11-12. The teams met five times in 2008, with the Leopards earning a 3-2 advantage in the series.
Once again, the Brown and White will try to come away with the Liberty Bell Classic championship. Last season, Lehigh reached the finals for the second-consecutive year, before falling to Lafayette at Citizens Bank Park. The Mountain Hawks will have their first chance to continue their success in the tournament when they square off with La Salle on March 31.
Lehigh closes out the 2009 season when it travels to South Orange, N.J. on May 6 to take on Seton Hall.
